Life-preserver.



A. D. BAILEY.

LIFE PEESERVER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1912.

LQ653385 Patented. June 24,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. D. BAILEY.

LIFE PRESERVER.

APPLICATION rum) AUG. 17, 1912.

Patented June 24, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

ANNA DEANE BAILEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 17, 1912. Serial No. 715,675.

servers, of which the following is a full and clear specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the appliance showing the parts in approximately the position they assume when the appliance is attached to the body; Fig. 2 a diagrammatic view greatly reduced showing one posit-ion the body may comfortably assume in the water when the appliance is properly adjusted thereto; and Fig. 3 a plan view of the appliance spread out flat.

The object of this invention is to provide a durable and inexpensive appliance which may be attached to the body very conveniently/ and quickly and without confusion and which when properly applied or at tached to the body will maintainthe wearereither in a comfortable sitting posture or in a reclining posture in the water, leaving the arms and legs of the wearer free to-propel the wearer forward or backward and to assist in maintaining the wearer in a safe and comfortable position. I

A further object of my appliance is to provide simple and inexpensive means whereby the head and face of the wearer will be protected against undue bufleting by the waves, as more fully hereinafter set forth. 7

The front or chest member of the appliance consists preferably of a series of vertical buoyant members a flexible connected at their vertical edges and preferably consisting of a suitable fabric inclosing a block of cork or other buoyant material. The

back member is similarly constructedfthe vertical buoyant members being designated by the letter I), and the top edges of these two members are connected by a suitable fabric web or sheet 0 which is provided with a hole in its center for the passage of the' head and neck of the wearer, this hole forming two shoulder straps cl. When the appliance is donned these straps at rest on the shoulders and the back member lies against the back of the wearer and the front member against the chest of the, wearer. Depending from the rear edge of the back member is a broad sheet of canvas or other flexible fabric 6 which has a length approximately that of the back member and which has formed on or attached to its lower end a strap f which tapers toward its free end Where it is provided with a snap hook g.

\Vhen the appliance is donned in the manner above set forth, this strap 7 is brought forward between the legs of the wearer and then upwardly and attached by means of its Patented June 24, 1913.

snap hook g to any one of a vertical series of rings h fastened on the front of the chest as a flexible hammock-like seat or sling in -which the body of the wearer rests, and

when the apparatus is properly adjusted to the height of the wearer by means of the hook g and the rings it, this fabric 6 together with the buoyant back and front members will maintain the body of the wearer in a comfortable sitting position in the water with the head of the wearer above the level of the water. To fasten the body members more closely to the body of the wearer I may provide a pair of straps i attached preferably to the rear member and adapted to he brought around in front of the chest member and at that point tied together, the knot being brought to a point where it will be convenient for the wearer to tie and untie it. The seat sling e being broad and being flexible affords a comfortable and substantial seat or support, so that the wearer will be maintained in a comfortable position, with his legs free for use in propelling the wearer about in the water. To obtain a further adjustment, to increase the range of adjustability ofthe appliance to different sized persons, .I attach to the shoulder fabric 0 a pair of snap hooks j and at corresponding points at the opposite sides of the shoulder straps d I attach rings 7", so that by hooking the snap hooks into the rings 7' the'shoulder straps will be caused to puckerv or fold and will'thus be shortened, bringing the buoyant members higher up on the body of the wearer.

Across the upper edge of the back member ispermanently fastened a pillow-like buoyant member Z, Which depends from the sheet of fabric a just above the upper edge of the back member, this member Z lying normally against the back member and having a hinge-like fabric connection to the back portion of the fabric sheet 0. This buoyant pillow is therefore free to swing upwardly and downwardly independently of the body members and its object is primarily to prevent the wearer being overturned backwardly while in the water, it being obvious that should a wave tend to throw the wearer over backwardly this pillow will be struck by the water and by reason of its buoyant nature will tend to stop the backward movement of the wearer and to throw the head forwardly toward an upright posi tion. This back pillow will also protect the neck and head of the wearer against the effect of buffeting waves. Across the front of the appliance is similarly attached a similar buoyant pillow m, and this pillow performs the same function in preventing forward tipping of the body and in protecting the face of the wearer against splashing waves. These pillows however do not prevent the wearer from assuming a reclining position on his back as by throwing his feet and legs upwardly and thus shifting his weight directly upon the back member and by gently manipulating his arms and legs a reclining position can be maintained. Two additional buoyant pillows n are em ployed, one being attached to each side of the appliance so that one shall normally hang under each arm pit. Each of these pillows is attached to the side edges of the sheet 0 by a flexible strap 0 and at its outer end, on its upper face, each pillow is provided with a loop 7) through which the arm of the wearer may be passed. These pillows when thus connected-to the arms of the wearer greatly assist in preventing a rough sea upsetting the wearer toward either side as by manipulating these pillows the wearer may counteract the tendency of the waves. The flexible connection of these arm supporting pillows enables them to be used to some extent as paddles in assisting in propelling the wearer but their principal function is to assist the wearer in preventing the waves upsetting him toward either side. An appliance constructed iii-accordance with my invention will even without any efi'ort on the part of the wearer normally maintain the wearer in an upright po sition in the water, so that even though the wearer be unconscious through some injury or shock or exposure the head of the wearer will be maintained above the level of the water. This is obviously a great desideratum.

I preferably attach to a suitable part of the garment a flexible cord or chain r by means of which the wearer may attach to himself or to herself, a child or other person or other object which it is desirable shall be so connected to the wearer that separation in the water will be impossible. attach this cord or chain to the body by means of a ring 8 and a snap book 27 or other connecting device is provided at the end of the cord or chain whereby the cord or chain may be passed around the object or through a loop or eye attached thereto and by engaging the snap hook I.- to the ring 3, the child or other object will be securely attached to the wearer by a flexible connection. It will be understood of course that'thiscord' or chain 7 shall vary in length according to the purpose to which it is to be used. I prefer attaching the strap r to one of the side edges of the front or chest'member and in locating the ring .9 just above and about midway the length of the front pillow we, so that the object which is tied to the appliance may be supported upon the pillow 721, this being especially desirable where the object is a child. It will beunderstood that variations in the details of construction of this appliance may be resorted to by me without departing from the spirit of my invention. A

' Having thus described my inventiom what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an appliance of the class set forth, a front member adapted to extend across the chest of the wearer, a buoyant back member adapted to extend across the back of the wearer, and means for removably and adjustably securing these members respectively against the chest' and the back of the wearer, said means consisting of adjustable means connecting the upper ends of the members and extending over the shoulders of the wearer and also an adjustable device connectingthe lower edges of the members, said device consisting of a broad flexible sheet of. fabric attached to the lower edge of the back member and depending therethrough, the lower end of this fabric sheet having attached to it a strap which is adapted to be folded upwardly and adjustably' connected to the front member.

2. Inan appliance of the class set forth, a buoyant member adapted to extend across the back of the wearer, and means for re movably and adjustably securing these members respectively against the chest and the back of the wearer, said means consisting of adjustable means connecting the upper ends of the members and extending over the shoulders of the wearer and also an ad'- justable device connecting the lower edges of the members, said device consisting of a flexible fabric sheet having a widt ap proximately equal to said back member and depending from the lower edge of said back member and being provided at its lower end with a flexible strap, said strap bein adapted to be extended upwardly for a justable connection to the front member.

3. In a device of the class set forth, vertical buoyant body members and means for connecting them together and for fastening them to the-body of the wearer, said means embodying adjustable shoulder straps and a depending flexible seat apron attached to the back member and having a width approximating the same and a strapconnected to the free end of said apron, means being provided for adjusta'bly attaching this strap .to the face of a front body member, buoyant pillows connected to the front and back members, and a buoyant arm pillow member flexibly connecting the front and back members and provided each with a loop at its outer end for engagement with the hand or arm of the wearer, whereby the wearer may maintain himself in a sitting position in the water and use the arm pillows to assist in balancing and propelling himself in the water.

4. In a device of the class set forth, vertical buoyant body members and means for connecting them together, and for fastening them to-the body of the wearer, and a buoyant pillow or float flexibly connected to the front member and extending across the front and at the upper edge thereof, and a flexible object holding strap connected at one end to one edge of the front member and means for connecting its other end to the front member at a point above said pillow.

5. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a buoyant back member, a buoyant front member, and means for attaching said members adjustably to the body of the wearer, and a buoyant arm member attached to each side of the appliance, each arm member being flexibly attached to both the front and the back members so as to be capable of a vertical, swinging movement, and each arm member being elongated and provided at its outer end on its upper side with a loop for engagement with the hand or arm of the wearer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- ANNA DEANE BAILEY. Witnesses:

CHARLES D. DAVIS, CHARLES LOWELL HOWARD. 

